`Gang-rape victim never complained of police laxity`

Ballia: Contrary to the claims made by the girl`s friend, the family of the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim on Thursday said that the girl had "never complained of any laxity" on the part of Delhi Police in rushing her to hospital.

"During the treatment, she never complained of any laxity on the part of police in rushing her to hospital... In fact, after the incident, the Delhi police had extended its cooperation," brother and father of the victim said.

The male friend of the Delhi gangrape victim on January 4 had severely criticised the Delhi Police for its tardy response and bemoaned public apathy after both of them had been badly injured and thrown out of the bus after the girl was gangraped by six men.

The Home Ministry had ordered a probe into the allegation of the friend of the Delhi gangrape victim that police response to their distress call after the incident was slow.

A joint-secretary level officer of the Ministry will investigate the veracity of the claim by the software engineer that even after reaching the spot here on the night of December 16, the police were arguing over jurisdiction of the case and were hesitant to lift the 23-year-old girl, losing crucial time, a senior Home Ministry official said on January 7.

Reacting to three of the accused Ram Singh, Mukesh Singh and Akshay Singh not accepting the charges and their counsel telling the court that they will face the trial, they said that they have already accepted their crime and that "the trial would only prolong the punishment".

"There are enough evidences that would surely ensure them death sentence... The trial would only prolong the punishment", the family said.

On a TV channel launching a drive for awarding the male friend of the girl for his bravery, they said that though he showed courage but it was not enough.

"Had he done something more like breaking the window pane of the bus and drawn the attention of the passersby the incident could have been averted", they said, adding that it was the deceased who had displayed immense courage and bravery and battled with the accused.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit called a day ago and enquired about the family and also talked about economic assistance, they said.

UP`s Revenue Minister Ambika Chaudhary has told the family that there was possibility of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav attending the `terahi` (ritual related to death) on January 12.